‘

168

Srientific American,

[Marcu 15, 1873.

 

Glycerin in Boilers,

At the last séance of the Society of Civil Engineers, Paris,
M. E. Asselin recommended the use of glycerin to prevent
incrustation in steam boilers.

G ycerin, soluble in water in every proportion, increases the
solubility of combinations of lime, and especially of the sui-
‘phate; it appears, besides, to form with these combinations
soluble compounds. When the quantity of lime becomes so
great that it can no longer be dissolved, nor form with the
glycerin soluble combinations, it is deposited in a gelatinous
substance, which never adheres to the surface of the iron
plates. Moreover, the gelatinous substances thus formed are
not carried with the steam into the cylinder of the engine.

M. Asselin advises the employment of one pound of gly-
cerin for every 300 or 400 pounds of coal burnt, fifteen days
supply being introduced at once. From trials made with
boilers fed with bad water, it was proved that the glycerin
combined with all the salts, and left the plates perfectly
clean,

——-1One-
Sewing Machine Sales.
The sales of sewing machines in 1872, just reported, show,
says the New York Sun, the following remarkable results:
Machines
Singer Manufacturing Company sold.............. 219,758

Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturmg Company sold... 174,088
Howe Machine Company (estimated) sold. .......... 145,000

     

Grover & Baker Sewing Machine Company sold..... 52,010
Domestic Sewing Machine Company sold...... wees 49,554
Weed Sewing Machine Company sold.............. 42,444
Willcox & Gibbs Sewing Machine Company sold.... 33,639
Wilson Sewing Machine Company sold.......... . 22,666
Amer, B, H. O. & Sewing Machine sold....... 18,930
Gold Medal Sewing Machine Company sold......... 18,897
Florence Sewing Machine Company sold........... 15,793
B. P. Howe Sewing Machine Company sold......... 14,907
Victor Sewing Machine Company sold............-. 11,901
Davis Sewing Machine Company scld.....,........ 11,376
Blees Sewing Machine Company sold. ...........+ -» 6,053
Remington Empire Sewing Machine Company sold.. 4,982
J. E. Braunsdorff & Co. sold....... eran oi Sarre ar 4,262
Keystone Sewing Machine Company sold........... 2,665
Bartlett Reversible Sewing Machine Company sold.. 1,000
Bartram & Fanton Manufacturing Company sold.... 1,000
Secor Sewing Machine Company sold. ..... ee Gate alasels sil
seer nr cer Ol er

Durtin@ the recent session of the National Academy of
Science, at Cambridge, Mass., Professor Mayer gave some in-
teresting information regarding the effect of magnetism on

“iron: He states that he has discovered, by means of the
Saxton comparator, that rods of iron suffered a permanent
elongation by magnetization of one hundred and fifty mil-
lionths of aninch. English refined iron gave the maximum
of elongation, scrap iron, the minimum. Whether the cur-
rent was gradually increased in intensity, or whether it was
sent full charge at once, it produced the same degree of
elongation. With one cell the elongation took place in six
tenths of a second; with 26 cells it took place in two tenths
of asecond. Professor Pierce thought if the elongation of
iron under magnetization were true, it might make its effect
on the earth in an appreciable difference in the length of the
day. This could be detected by astronomy. A change in
the day of seven hundredths of a second would be perfectly
easy to discover now.

 

oe

A CORRESPONDEN?, C. B. of Newark, N. J., thinks, when
he pays a few cenis for a copy of our journal (which, he
says, is worth ten times its price), that he can lighten our
labors by sending us information occasionally. He states
that our recent article on the experimental canal boats has
caused an excitement in Newark, where it is stated that the
Baxter is the only boat that has fulfilled the legal require
ment, having made three full trips each way, with a cargo in
excess of the stipulated tunnage, at arate of over three miles
an hour through the canal. The. Newarkers claim the prize
for her. He also states that Mr. H. M. Paine has returned
to Newark, and is engaged on an electro-motor for sewing
machines. Another item of interest is an account of the re-
invention of the engine with its cylinders curved longitudi-
nally, a form applied on the U. 8. frigate Princeton, thirty
years ago. A Newark firm has constructed such an engine
to order, and is patiently waiting for the ‘‘ inventor” to fetch

it away.
soo

Rose Currmnes.—The most certain way of rooting rose
cuttings is by bending the shoots and inserting both ends
into the ground, leaving a single bud uncovered at the mid-
dle and on the surface of the ground. The cuttings are
about ten inches long, and are bent over a stick laid flat on
the ground, holes being dug on each side of the stick for the
reception of the ends of the shoot. The roots form only at
the lower end of the shoot, but the other end, being buried,
prevents evaporation and drying up.

Se

Tue London Times says that the recent transmission of
the Queen’s speech throughout England evidenced some
very rapid telegraphing. The document contained 858 words,
and reached York, a distance of about 200 miles, in six
minutes and a half. Wheatstone’s automatic instruments
were used. The above is at the speed of 1382 words per

minute.
1 2

Tu Atlantic cable companies and also the Western Union
Telegraph company have, we learn, consented to the free
transmission of dispatches relative to astronomical discoy-
eries to and from the Smithsonian Institute in Washington.
The object of telegraphic communication is to avoid the
difficulties which might supervene from the change of posi-
tion cf the observed bodies during the interval required for

postal correspondence

 

A number of very severe tests were recently applied in Eng-
land, to dynamite with a view of showing that it could be
safely transported on one of the principal railroad lines. It
is stated that no explosion occurred when a box containing
five hundred weight of sand was dropped from a hight of
forty feet upon a mass of cartridges, although the latter were
badly crushed and broken. It was also proved that a fire in
a railway train containing dynamite need not cause any more
anxiety than would be experienced from a conflagration of
ordinary timber or similar material. A fifty pound box of
the substance thrown into a bonfire burned with a powerful
flame for two or three minutes, but no explosion took place.
Loose cartridges laid upon rails exploded when run over by
cars, but loose dynamite sprinkled near them was unaffected.
=—><e0e —____-__--

The John Leland cheese factory, at Cheshire, used up
1,046,210 pounds of milk, last year, producing 104,976
pounds of cheese, or a pound of cheese for each 9,°; pounds
of milk. The receipts were $12,786, and the stock pays 9
per cent in dividends.

 

Inventions Patented in England by Americans,
{Compiled from the Commissioners of Patents’ Journal.]
From February 4 to February 10, 1873, inclusive.
ENGINE VALVES, ETCO.—G. F. Blake, Boston, Mass. (Two patents.)
Fire Arm.—H. Berdan, New York city.
Har.—R. Eickemeyer, Yonkers, N. Y.
Hear DisrrrButTor.—D. Shedd, New York city.
Hoxr.—M. Cookerly, Baxter Springs, Kan.
Kiin.—A. Morand, Brooklyn, N. Y.
LINING Boar, ETCO.—G. S. Levy, New York city.
MAKING ScrEws.--J. A. Ayres, Hartford, Conn.
PENCIL AND ERASER.—J. Reckendorfer, New York city.
PREss, ETC.—B. @. Martin, New York city.
SEEDING Ratstns.—C. Dixon, New York city.
Screw PRoPELLER.—J. L. Cathcart, Washington, D.C., J. S. Negley, Pitts-
burgh, Pa.

TREADLE MoTion.—G. B. Kirkham, New York city.
UNIVERSAL TOOL.—W. L. Grout, Boston, Mass.

 

 

Tue ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL OF PHRENOLOGY AND Puys!-

OLOGY FOR 1873. By 8S. R. Wells, Publisher of the

“ Phrenological Journal” and the “Science of Health.”

25 cents. New York: Samuel R. Wells, 389 Broadway.

A neat little book, the character of which is indicated by its title and
place of publication.

BREAD-AND-CHEESE AND Kisses. By B.L. Fargeon. Ilus-
trated. Harper & Brothers, Franklin Square, New York.

A pleasant story, beautifully told. The publishers have hardly done jus-
tice to its merits, as the illustrations are simply execrable.

 

   

improved Snow Ram for Railroads.

William C. A. Frerichs, Tottenville, N. ¥.—The invention consists in a
tunneling snow ram for railroads. The forward end of the ram is made
wedge-shaped, and the top is curved and extends up to ora little above the
top of the body of the ram. The sides of the hood project so that the said
hood may form a tunnel larger than the bedy of the ram. In the rear part
of the body is placed a suitable engine to drive fan blowers. Inthe forward
part of the body are placed two furnaces into the upper parts of which the
blast from the fan blower is introduced, to be heated and driven out through
pipes which pass into the space beneath the hood. The furnaces are sur-
rounded by an air-tight space into which the blast from the other fan blower
is introduced. This air circulates around the furnaces, becomes heated and
is designed to keep the outer surface of the hood sufticiently heated to re-
vent the snow from sticking to it, and to cause the snow to pack. The
smoke stacks are hinged so that when the ram is at work they may be
turned down out of the way. The bodies of the cars readily pass through
the tunnel formed by said ram. To the sides of the car bodies are attached
plates which project down nearly to the track to guard against any snow
slide passing in beneath the cars and clogging them. The spaces between the
platforms of the adjacent cars, at the sides and top, are shutin by plates over-
lapping each other, and connected with each other and with the cars by
springs, to give them the necessary elasticity for passing around curves, etc.

Improved Car Starter.

James J. Wheeler, Grinnell, lowa.—This invention consists of a small
frame of two legs, connected together by suitable cross bars. Each leg has
a clamping foot adapted for clamping the head of a rail—one acting when
forced downward, and the other when raised upward. On said frame isa
drum and crank, with a rope orchain for hitching to the car, which is thus
moved by winding the chain or rope on the drum, ‘The frame is confined
on the rail by the clamps, which are caused to hold fast to the rail by the
one next to the car being forced down on the rail by the strain upon the rope
or chain, and the other by being forced upward by the said strain.

Improved Truck Barrow.

James J. Richardson, Marion, S. C.—This invention relates to an improve-
ment in barrows or trucks of the class in which the wheels are arranged un-
der the body of the truck; and it consists in the arrangement of a cross
bar to scrape the wheels of the barrow and connect its sides. The wheels
are arranged to revolve on a stationary shaft secured on the under side of
handle rails. The front posts mortised into the upturned ends of the
handle rails support the removable front boards and the forward ends of
the side boards. A cross piece standing edgewise is provided by which the
bottom ends of the posts are connected, and the wheels scraped. This ar-
rangement raises the bottom and allows the weight or load on the barrow
or truck to rest directly over the wheels. This allows the barrow to be used
as a truck, the load in eithercase being discharged over the front end when
desired. In handling cotton bales and other heavy articles the side boards
are removed, and such articles are loaded and discharged as when a truck is
used. Braces and straps of iron are appiied wherever necessary to streng-
then the connections, and add to the durabiiity of the combined articles.
Thin pieces of sheet metal are attached to the forward cross piece opposite
the wheels, the design of which is to scrape the tires or peripheries of the
wheels, and thus keep them clear of mud, mortar, or otheradhering matter.

Improved Bottle Stopper.

Herman F. Reiner, Blairsville, Pa.—This invention has for its object to
furnish a stopper for bottles which shall be so constructed that the influx
or efflux of liquids is rendered possible without the removal of the stopper
from the bottle. The invention consists in the employment of a stopper
composed of g metallic tapering tube which is provided with a horizontal
central flange and with a bayonet slot for receiving and securing the verti-
cal stem of a conical disk valve, by the movement of which stem the valve
is opened or closed to admit of the induction and discharge of liquids.

Spring Attachment to Car Windows.

George Cornwall, Brooklyn, N. Y.—This invention relates to a spring
attachment to the sashes of car windows, and more particularly to such
sashes as are let down into boxes of the car frame when opened. The in-
vention consists in the application to each upper end of the sash of one or
more U-shaped inverted springs, whose ends are fastened to the faces of
the sash, while their upper rounded parts project above the sash and come
in contact with the frame of the window to prevent rattling either in
closed or open positions of the sash, and to adapt them to serve as handles

' raising and lowering the sashes.

Improved Cultivator.

Amos B. Colverand John Priest, Albany, Oregon.—This {nvention con-
sists of a triangular cultivator with an adjustable device for varying the
depth of the furrows by shifting and maintaining it at different hights ona
truck of two wheels at the rear, and a caster wheel at the front; for raising
it above the ground, and supporting it for moving it on the road.

Improved Sewing Machine Cover Hook.

John C, Egly, Philadelphia, Pa.—This invention relates to a new means of
applying a hook fastening to the cover of a sewing machine table, so that
if the wood of the cover or table should shrink or warp the fastening may
be readily adjusted tothe change. [It consists in making the hook adjusta-
ble in a recess of the table, and in combining it witha slotted plate, where-
by it isheld in place. ‘he shank of this hook is made in the form of a flat
rectangular plate, to fit a mortise in the table, wherein it has backward and
forward play. A plate is fitted to the table as a cover to this mortise, and
is fastened by screws so that it bears upon the shank. The hook proper pro
jects througha slot of this plate When the desired position has been as-
signed to the hook, the plate is firmly screwed down, and bears upon the
shank so as to hold the hook in place. If the table or cover should shrink
80 as to require the readjustment of the hook, it is only necessary to slight-
ly loosen tae plate, reset the hook, and then refasten it. This invention
also makes it convenient to fit covers to tables when either is not of the
exact size required.

Improved Dish Washing Machine.

Joseph Usher, West Albany, N. Y.—This invention has for its object to
furnish an improved machine for washing dishes, which shall be so con-
structed as to wash the dishes quickly and thoroughly. In using the ma-
chine, the dishes to be washed are arranged and secured in a frame, and
placed in a metal case which rests on gudgeons which pass through holes
and revolve in bearings inan outer box. A quantity of water, or soap and
water, is then placed in the case and the door is closed and secured. The
case and its contents are then revolved a few times—first in one direction
and toen in the other—which quickly cleans the dishes. The door is then
unfastened, and the case is turned, allowing the water to run off. A quan-
tity of clean water is then poured into the case and the dishes are rinsed in
the same manner as they were washed, after, which the rinsing water is
emptied out in the same manneras washing water, and the frame and the
dishes are removed and placed in a drawer beneath. When the dishes are
to be used they are remoyed from the frame and wiped witha clean cloth.

Improved Wood Pavement.

Mary H. Alexander, Newark, N. J.—This invention consists in making a
pavement of a series of wedge shaped blocks, flat on top, notched across one
of the upper ends, anc driven into the soil at right angles to each other, so
that each one may be supported by another, braced lengthwise against each
of its opposite ends. The object of the corner notch is to bring the filling
spaces in small zigzags or right angled triangles, and thus afford good foot
hold without the necessity of cutting away the block too much or wasting
the filling. This would seem to be animportant improvement and advance
in wood pavements.

Improved Paper Box. .

Moses W. Dillingham, Amsterdam, N. Y.—The object of this invention is
to provide convenient and eflicient means for holding the covers to paper
boxes without tying them, and it consists in pieces of pasteboard or other
suitable material attached to the box and to the cover. On the outside of
opposite sides of the box, or on one or two of the corners and one of the
ends or sides, are attached strips of pasteboard at or near the upper edge.
On the inside of the cover are also attached similar pieces, arranged to cor-
respond in position with the pieces on the box and so that there shall be a
recess for each piece on the box, and so that any two of such pieces—one on
the box and one on the cover—shall engage with each other, and thereby
hold the cover securely to the box.

Improved Horse Power.

Zachariah P. Landrum, Columbus, Miss.—The invention consists in a new
mode of applying the levers to horse powers so that the length of power
arm to that of weight arm can be increased without requiring any greater
space for the sweeps, thereby giving great leverage and enabling one pair of
horses to do easily what heretofore two have done with difficulty. This in
vention affords a very convenient and smoothly working horse power, which
has been practically tested and received by the public with great favor.

Improved Corn Coverer.

John Tweedy, Vernon, Ind.—The invention consists in combining a clod
mover with a leveler and pair of covering plows, andin the means of attach-
ing and holding it in position. The plows are inclined inward so as to throw
the soil into the furrow and cover the corn. The end parts of a semicircular
or arched mold board are attached to the lower parts of the standards, and
are so formed as to round up or ridge the soil over the corn so as to prevent
the corn from being carried off by the crows, and to prevent the soil from
peing washed away by the rain. The sod mover or leveler is formed by at-
taching two side plates, at their upper edges, to the side edges of a small tri-
angular top plate, which meet in a sharp inclined edge, so that the said device
may be V-shaped in its horizontal section. The clod mover may be adjusted
torward or back, as may be desired, and moves along the top of the ridge
and pushes off the clods, sods, and other obstructions that might impede
the corn in coming up, and thus leayes the top of the ridge in proper condi-
tion.

Improved Sugar Cane Cultivator.

Alcide Trouard, New Orleans, La.—A wood or metal cylinder is provided
or set with teeth having sharp or curved arrow-shaped points. The cylinder
revolves around an axle, which is mounted or journaled in levers that are
pivoted at their forward ends to the frame bars, and are adjustable verti-
cally at their rear ends. The bars with the cross bars, constitute the frame
proper of the machine, which is supported on runners made in the form of
ordinary sled runners. Horizontal bars or rods are provided for cleaning
the teeth of the cylinder. Before the machine can be used the stubble is
barred off by running a plow on each side of the row. A shaver on slides is
then run in the furrows to shave or slice off the stubble to an even length.
This macaine is then run in the same furrows, and the hook teeth of the
cylinder enter between the stubble stalks and grub or pick out the earth.
The cylinder is adjusted vertically to correspond to the condition of the
soil or stubble.

Improved Glove.

Edwin V. Whitaker, Gloversville, N. Y.—The invention relates to gloves
made with leather palms and cloth backs, and consists in cutting a glove
with the thumb and all the forgets, except for middle finger, in the same
piece with the palm. The purpose is to economise the material, give the
exact relative quantity of leather to each, and make the forgets seamless at
the points between the fingers. A much smoother and more accurate fit
may thus be given to gloves, while the irdurability is also greatly increased.

Improved Meat Chopper.

Jesse Battey, Manchester, N. J.—This invention consists of a noyel con
trivance of pawls and a shifting device with a ratchet bar having two
sets of ratchet teeth, reversed as to each other, for moving the chopping box
and reversing it from one direction to the other. The invention also con-
sists of an intermittingly reciprocating square chopping box, combined
with a vertically moving blade and a carrier for the box, in such manner
that the box can be turned a quarter of a revolution, and thereby be pre-
sented to the blade so that the meat will be chopped crosswise.

Improved Inkstand.

James B. Thurston and Frank M. West, New York city.—The invention
relates to an improvement in the class of inkstands or holders in which two
or more receptacles are arranged to be revolved around a central axis to
bring them successively or at pleasure under an opening in a cover; and it
consists in suspending the ink receptacles by their upper edges from a per_
forated disk or plate adapted to revolve in contact with the under side of
the cover of the inkstand, and in the arrangement of a spring and lug or
projection of the cover for locking the reyolving disk

Improved Paper File.

Emanuel Motz, Woodward, Pa.—This invention relates to an improved
device for holding newspapers or other papers filed, and consists in the com
bination of a rod with a binding string and winding pin, the bar furnishing
the rigid back for the papers filed, while the string ties the papers together
and to the file, the pin holding the string in proper tension.